West Nile Virus Found in Mosquito Pools in Montgomery, Prince George's Counties

Maryland state and Montgomery County agencies expanded their spraying for mosquitoes over health concerns about West Nile and Zika viruses.

Crews performed truck-based spraying Monday in the Wheaton area of Kensington, the Olde Town area of Gaithersburg and the Sandy Spring area, all in Montgomery County, around 7:30 p.m.

As a follow up, state and local inspectors will go door-to-door in the area to inspect properties for mosquito breeding sites and will conduct backyard spraying, as needed, to further reduce adult mosquito populations.

Maryland health officials reported the first confirmed case of West Nile virus this year in the state. The health department said an adult who lives in western Maryland has survived the infection.

The department said the virus has been detected in mosquito pools collected in Montgomery and Prince George's counties. A pool is a group of mosquitoes collected at one of several trap sites around the state.

The department also said Eastern equine encephalitis, a related mosquito-borne disease, also has been detected on the Eastern Shore.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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